For 70 years Vitamin C has been one of the biggest weapons in the skin care industry. It's used to make cleansers, moisturizers, lotions, masks, and serums. So what is this powerful vitamin? How can it benefit you? Why should you use serums that contain Vitamin C? We're here to answer all of those burning questions in this complete guide and reveal the many benefits Vitamin C serums offer for your skin.
What Are Vitamin C Serums?
There are many variations of Vitamin C, but the most popular is ascorbic acid, a common ingredient in skincare products. However, all the variations of Vitamin C have anti-inflammatory benefits.
Vitamin C Serums are products that contain a high level of Vitamin C. They're used to treat wrinkles, sagging skin, lighten dark or red spots, prevent breakouts and even your skin tone. Basically, they battle all of those annoying skin issues. There are loads of products out there that claim they'll save your skin, but some can cause damage. Vitamin C is one of the most revered ingredients and conclusive research has shown how effective it can be.
How Are Vitamin C Serums Made?
Well so far we've talked about how incredible Vitamin C is and it sounds like a dream come true doesn't it? It's not all good. In fact, the mighty vitamin is unstable when it's exposed to air and light. Other ingredients need to be used to stabilize it and allow it to deliver amazing results. The serums are combined with ferulic acid and Vitamin E. According to researchers the perfect mixture is 15% Vitamin C with 1% Vitamin E and 0.5% ferulic acid. This makes Vitamin C perform to the best of its abilities, without damaging your skin.
What Does Vitamin C Serum Do for Your Face?
Boosts Collagen Production: Collagen keeps your skin firm and prevents sagging. Environmental factors such as lifestyle choices and pollution can increase the elasticity of your skin, so it's important you try to increase your collagen production.
Hydrates Your Skin: Dry skin is a common issue, but Vitamin C can help to give your skin that much-needed moisture boost. Remember, it doesn't work immediately so you need to keep applying the serum to see results.
Brightens Your Complexion: Dark spots on your skin are caused by the overproduction of melanin. Vitamin C decreases the production and lightens the dark spots to even out your complexion.
Reduces Redness and Inflammation: Conditions such as Rosacea leave many people searching for a magic cure. Vitamin C helps facial redness and inflammation by reducing the appearance of broken capillaries.
Why Should You Be Using Vitamin C Serum?
Don't think Vitamin C serums are just beneficial for your face. They can also shield you from sun damage and reduce stretch marks.
Saves You From The Sun: Prolonged exposure to UV rays can cause long-term damage to your skin. Luckily, Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that reduces red sports and prevents sunburn from spreading.
Fades Acne Scars: Acne plagues most of us at some point and we look forward to being free. Most of us get stuck with some scars but Vitamin C helps to fade scars and even out any discoloration.
Reduces Stretch Marks: Yes, Vitamin C serum can even help prevent those unsightly stretch marks by tightening your skin.
Are you ready to change your skin? Add a Vitamin C serum to your beauty regimen and enjoy a glowing complexion.
Foods high in vitamin C have long been hailed as immunity-boosting powerhouses and essential for inclusion in your day-to-day diet. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin C is vital to protect against illness and disease as, in the body, it acts as an antioxidant helping to protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals.
What is vitamin C?
Also known as ascorbic acid or nicknamed 'the immunity vitamin', the water-soluble nutrient is most commonly found in fruit and veg.
What does vitamin C do?
Vitamin C has a number of purposes in the body, explains nutritional therapist Paula Werrett. 'It acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells from free radicals created through normal energy production and ingested through foods and from sunlight and pollution in the environment.'
And that's not all. 'The body also requires vitamin C to produce collagen, a protein needed for the maintenance of health for bones, cartilage, gums, teeth and skin to help wounds heal. Finally, vitamin C is also extremely important to help with the absorption of iron-rich foods and helps the immune system to manage the disease', she shares. Not bad.
Ensuring you absorb enough iron from your diet is especially important if you exercise regularly. Working on the reg although good for you can actually contribute to iron deficiency, so giving your body a helping hand if you're a fan of a good sweat sesh definitely won't do any harm.
What else is vitamin C good for?
Vitamin C is also needed to prevent deficiency diseases such as scurvy, and is helpful for the maintenance of good energy and metabolism and for healthy skin, cartilage, bones and teeth, she expands.
But it is also relevant to coronavirus . 'Vitamin C has been shown to help shorten the length and severity of respiratory infections, such as colds.' This means, in short, that eating enough regularly can can help you bounce back from common cold and flu symptoms more quickly, she explains.
So what's the link between vitamin C and Coronavirus?
Doctor Aragona Giuseppe, GP and medical advisor at Prescription Doctor, says it's important to clarify the vit C's role in dealing with COVID-19: 'There is no medical or scientific evidence to suggest that a certain food or supplement can help prevent a person catching COVID-19'.
yulkapopkova
Dr Giuseppe explains that because vitamin C is well-known as an immunity boosting vitamin many people assume that it can help fight off coronavirus. 'While vitamin C could help to reduce or get rid of any symptoms, there is no evidence to suggest that vitamin C alone will fight off the virus. Every body is different and is being affected by the virus differently', he continues.
There is no evidence to suggest that vitamin C alone will fight off the virus
However, Heather Rosa (@IONHRosa), the Dean of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, disagrees, sharing that a study suggests early and high intravenous doses of Vitamin C could help to fight the coronavirus disease. 'A recent Medicine in Drug Discovery study led by Virginia Commonwealth University found that patients who received intravenous vitamin C spent significantly fewer days in intensive care and hospital overall. On average, the vitamin C group spent three fewer days in the ICU and a week less in the hospital overall.'
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Plus, she shares that a group of hospitals in New York are treating their most critical COVID-19 patients with high doses of vitamin C.
Only time will tell the true impact vitamin C can have on the virus as scientists, doctors and experts continue to work towards a vaccine and potential counters. Whatever the effect of the vitamin, Giuseppe advises listening to government guidelines, staying at home and making a few small lifestyle tweaks, if you don't already do these things, to ensure you keep yourself (and your immune system) in tip top shape.
Eat plenty of nutrient dense foods (Giuseppe advises fruit, fish, healthy oils, protein and vegetables)
Stay hydrated with eight glasses of water a day
Get moving and use your hour a day outside wisely
Be mindful of your alcohol intake
Maximise your sleep and aim for eight hours a night (if you're struggling with this, read our guide to clean sleeping).
However, experts do maintain that eating a diet high in antioxidants and whole, non-processed foods generally will support bodily functioning and, in turn, potentially assist your immune system in fighting off viruses.
How much vitamin C do I need per day?
'The NHS recommends we get 40 mg a day', says Rosa. 'Anything more than 1,000 mg a day and you may experience stomach pain and diarrhoea', she warns.
The World Health Organisation guidelines state similar, recommending 45mg of vitamin C per day or 300mg per week from your diet.
To put that into context, a small orange contains around 51g of vitamin C. You know what they say—an orange a day…
However, Werrett believes that the sky is the limit with vitamin C consumption—within reason. 'The RDA of 40mg is the minimum amount you need to consume to prevent deficiency disease, such as scurvy. Much higher levels, however, may be optimal, with the Department of Health and Social Care suggesting up to 1,000mg daily for adults is unlikely to cause harm. Recent research trials show that still larger doses of 3,000 to 5,000mg a day (or even higher) may be needed for optimal effects in protection against viruses.'
What are the best vitamin C foods?
As mentioned, vitamin C is found predominantly in plants, with oranges the most well known natural source.
Acerola cherries
Blackcurrants
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Chilli peppers
Guavas
Kale
Kiwis
Kakadu plum
Lemons
Lychees
Mustard
Oranges
Papayas
Parsley
Red peppers
Spinach
Strawberries
Sweet yellow peppers
Thyme
As you can see while oranges are high in vit C, they're not the only fruit or veg.
What is the best source of vitamin C?
Fun fact: 100g of red pepper has 4.5 times the amount of vitamin C than an orange and a certain type of plum has over ten times. Scroll to see how 100g of orange stacks up against 100g of its rivals, in order from the highest:
Kakadu plum - 7000 mg per 100g veg
Red Peppers - 242.5 mg per 100g veg
Kale - 120 mg per 100g veg
Kiwi - 92.7 mg per 100g veg
Broccoli - 89.2 mg per 100g veg
Brussels Sprouts - 85 mg per 100g veg
Strawberries - 58.8 mg per 100g veg
Orange - 53.2 mg1 per 100g veg.
Can you overdose on Vitamin C?
Generally speaking, no, although if you consume too much, the majority will be excreted in your urine, shares nutritionist Lily Soutter (@lily_soutter_nutrition). 'You may also experience symptoms such as stomach pain, diarrhoea and flatulence if you ingest 1g per day or more.'
Plus, Rosa stressed that high doses of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) can wear away tooth enamel. She recommends washing your mouth out with a little water after consumption.
If you have type 1 diabetes, G6DP deficiency or hyperoxaluria, Rosa also advises that consuming too much vitamin C could be damaging or detrimental for reasons independent to each condition.
Keen to read up on vitamin C skincare and how it could perk up your skin? You're in the right place—read the WH guide to learn more about that.
Should I take a vitamin C supplement?
'Eating a healthy diet including plenty of Vitamin C rich foods is important for overall health. Extra vitamin C from supplements, however, may be needed to support the immune system further at times of stress or to further optimise the immune system,' shares Werrett. Essentially, you should consider your exercise levels, exposure to pollution and general diet.
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If you are worried about deficiencies, turning to vitamin C supplements can be an easy and effective way of ensuring you're meeting your RDA.
Vitamin C Supplements
Boots VITAMIN C 1000 mg Effervescent tablets
boots pharmaceuticalsboots.com
£4.00
Solgar Natural Cranberry with Vitamin C Vegi Capsules
Solgarhollandandbarrett.com
£14.99
Holland & Barrett Iron & Vitamin C 100 Tablets
hollandandbarrett.com
£3.29
Boots Vitamin C 30 Gummies
boots pharmaceuticalsboots.com
£4.00
Disclaimer: The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it's possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice, visit the World Health Organisation. If you're in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Whether in the form of a fizzy drink or flavored lozenges, cold and flu preventative supplements almost always highlight vitamin C as one of their key ingredients. So, what's so magical about vitamin C? Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is critical to living healthily. Since the human body cannot spontaneously generate this nutrient, vitamin C must instead be absorbed from outside sources, such as vitamin supplements or foods that are naturally rich in it.
What Does Vitamin C Do?
Commonly found in cold and flu preventative supplements, vitamin C strengthens and speeds up immune system functionality. Though research does not indicate that vitamin C intake alone can prevent the onset of cold or flu, adequate daily intake may shorten the duration of an infection or lessen the severity of symptoms.
Vitamin C is crucial for the maintenance of well being. For example, it plays a role in wound healing and helps maintain many essential body tissues. It also acts as a potent antioxidant and can repair damage from free radicals, which are linked to aging effects, and disease vulnerability. Additionally, vitamin C can also prevent anemia, since it helps the body increase absorption of dietary iron, another vital mineral that the body cannot spontaneously create.
Foods that contain high concentrations of vitamin C have been linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, like heart attack and stroke. Vitamin C can also increase levels of nitric oxide, a compound that widens blood vessels and, in turn, lowers blood pressure. In addition, regular intake of vitamin C, along with other vitamins, has been linked to a decreased risk for developing age-related cataracts, a leading cause of visual impairment in the United States.
Common Sources of Vitamin C
Vitamin C can be easily obtained through the many different foods, including:
Citrus fruits and juices (orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime and tangerine)
Berries
Melons
Mangoes
Kiwi
Tomato
Broccoli
Red peppers
Spinach
Squash
Potatoes
Cooking these foods may result in the loss of some of the vitamin content, so it is ideal to ingest them raw, either whole or juiced. Nowadays, there are also numerous packaged food products, like cereals, that have been enriched and fortified with vitamin C, so that the nutrient can be easily obtained.
Vitamin C may also be labeled as "L-ascorbic acid" in supplement form, and most over-the-counter multivitamins contain the recommended daily amount of the vitamin. While it is a good source when an individual is in need of a vitamin C boost, supplements are not meant to replace a diet rich in naturally derived vitamin C.
What Happens When You Have Too Much — or Too Little — Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that can be easily flushed out of the body via urination when it is not needed. Therefore, if the main source of vitamin C is from naturally occurring foods, it is near-impossible for excess vitamin C to produce side effects. However, taking excessive concentrated vitamin C supplements may lead to diarrhea or stomach upset.
Since vitamin C-rich foods are so readily available nowadays, symptoms of inadequate vitamin C intake are also rare in the United States. However, malnourished individuals can experience symptoms of vitamin C deficiency over time, including:
Weakness
Fatigue
Anemia
Easy bruising
Joint pain
Skin breakdown
Weakened tooth enamel
Gum inflammation
Severe vitamin C deficiency is referred to as scurvy. Scurvy can be easily treated with increased dietary or supplemental vitamin C. Since vitamin C is crucial in the detoxification of the body, a lack of vitamin C can compromise the immune system and make an individual more susceptible to diseases and infections. Individuals with insufficient vitamin C may find that it takes longer than usual to recover from a cold or a physical wound.
Daily Dosage Recommendations:
The daily dosage recommendation for vitamin C is different for everyone, depending on factors such as gender, age, lifestyle and current health condition. The recommended daily dosage for vitamin C is at least 75 mg daily for women and 90 mg for men. Since people who are pregnant, breast feeding, smoking or using oral contraceptives have a lower blood level of vitamin C than others, larger doses of vitamin C may be needed to achieve optimal results in these individuals. Those who have prior or current medical conditions may also require bigger or smaller dosage levels, as recommended by their healthcare providers.
Resource Links:
"Vitamin C" via MedlinePlus
"Vitamin C and Infections" via MDPI
"Extra Dose of Vitamin C Based on a Daily Supplementation Shortens the Common Cold: A Meta-Analysis of 9 Randomized Controlled Trials" via Hindawi, BioMed Research International
"Vitamin C" via National Institutes of Health
"Scurvy" via U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, National Institutes of Health
"Dietary intake and blood concentrations of antioxidants and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies" via The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
"Dietary vitamin and carotenoid intake and risk of age-related cataract" via The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
"Cardiovascular System" via Department of Anatomy, Seoul National University College of Medicine (via Springer)
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Pharmacist Only Medicine - Pharmacist advice is required to purchase this product. Legislation requires you to contact our pharmacist on 1300 367 283 within 48 hours after placing the order to receive this item. Failure to do this means the item will be deleted from your order with a refund, and the balance of the order being dispatched.
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This product is formulated using a two-stage, timed-release technology. The formula is designed to release half of the Vitamin C in this product rapidly and the other half gradually over a period of up to 12 hours. One capsule in the morning and another 12 hours later extends the availability of Vitamin C to the body over a 24-hour period. Vitamin C provides antioxidant activity and is intended to provide nutritive support for normal, healthy collagen synthesis, cartilage and bone development, immune function, capillary and blood vessel integrity and nerve impulse transmission. This product also contains Calcium Carbonate and Magnesium Oxide to buffer the natural acidity of Vitamin C.
Directions
Use only as directed. Take 2 capsules daily with a meal or glass of water.
Warnings
Keep out of reach of children. Do not exceed recommended daily intake.
This is a reader-friendly overview of Vitamin C. For more details, see our health professional fact sheet on Vitamin C.
For information on vitamin C and COVID-19, see Dietary Supplements in the Time of COVID-19.
What is vitamin C and what does it do?
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble nutrient found in some foods. In the body, it acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are compounds formed when our bodies convert the food we eat into energy. People are also exposed to free radicals in the environment from cigarette smoke, air pollution, and ultraviolet light from the sun.
The body also needs vitamin C to make collagen, a protein required to help wounds heal. In addition, vitamin C improves the absorption of iron from plant-based foods and helps the immune system work properly to protect the body from disease.
How much vitamin C do I need?
The amount of vitamin C you need each day depends on your age. Average daily recommended amounts for different ages are listed below in milligrams (mg).
Life Stage
Recommended Amount
Birth to 6 months
40 mg
Infants 7–12 months
50 mg
Children 1–3 years
15 mg
Children 4–8 years
25 mg
Children 9–13 years
45 mg
Teens 14–18 years (boys)
75 mg
Teens 14–18 years (girls)
65 mg
Adults (men)
90 mg
Adults (women)
75 mg
Pregnant teens
80 mg
Pregnant women
85 mg
Breastfeeding teens
115 mg
Breastfeeding women
120 mg
If you smoke, add 35 mg to the above values to calculate your total daily recommended amount.
What foods provide vitamin C?
Fruits and vegetables are the best sources of vitamin C. You can get recommended amounts of vitamin C by eating a variety of foods including the following:
Citrus fruits (such as oranges and grapefruit) and their juices, as well as red and green pepper and kiwifruit, which have a lot of vitamin C.
Other fruits and vegetables—such as broccoli, strawberries, cantaloupe, baked potatoes, and tomatoes—which also have vitamin C.
Some foods and beverages that are fortified with vitamin C. To find out if vitamin C has been added to a food product, check the product labels.
The vitamin C content of food may be reduced by prolonged storage and by cooking. Steaming or microwaving may lessen cooking losses. Fortunately, many of the best food sources of vitamin C, such as fruits and vegetables, are usually eaten raw.
What kinds of vitamin C dietary supplements are available?
Most multivitamins have vitamin C. Vitamin C is also available alone as a dietary supplement or in combination with other nutrients. The vitamin C in dietary supplements is usually in the form of ascorbic acid, but some supplements have other forms, such as sodium ascorbate, calcium ascorbate, other mineral ascorbates, and ascorbic acid with bioflavonoids. Research has not shown that any form of vitamin C is better than the other forms.
Am I getting enough vitamin C?
Most people in the United States get enough vitamin C from foods and beverages. However, certain groups of people are more likely than others to have trouble getting enough vitamin C:
People who smoke and those who are exposed to secondhand smoke, in part because smoke increases the amount of vitamin C that the body needs to repair damage caused by free radicals. People who smoke need 35 mg more vitamin C per day than nonsmokers.
Infants who are fed evaporated or boiled cow's milk, because cow's milk has very little vitamin C and heat can destroy vitamin C. Cow's milk is not recommended for infants under 1 year of age. Breast milk and infant formula have adequate amounts of vitamin C.
People who eat a very limited variety of food.
People with certain medical conditions such as severe malabsorption, some types of cancer, and kidney disease requiring hemodialysis.
What happens if I don't get enough vitamin C?
Vitamin C deficiency is rare in the United States and Canada. People who get little or no vitamin C (below about 10 mg per day) for many weeks can get scurvy. Scurvy causes fatigue, inflammation of the gums, small red or purple spots on the skin, joint pain, poor wound healing, and corkscrew hairs. Additional signs of scurvy include depression as well as swollen, bleeding gums and loosening or loss of teeth. People with scurvy can also develop anemia. Scurvy is fatal if it is not treated.
What are some effects of vitamin C on health?
Scientists are studying vitamin C to understand how it affects health. Here are several examples of what this research has shown.
Cancer prevention and treatment
People with high intakes of vitamin C from fruits and vegetables might have a lower risk of getting many types of cancer, such as lung, breast, and colon cancer. However, taking vitamin C supplements, with or without other antioxidants, doesn't seem to protect people from getting cancer.
It is not clear whether taking high doses of vitamin C is helpful as a treatment for cancer. Vitamin C's effects appear to depend on how it is administered to the patient. Oral doses of vitamin C can't raise blood levels of vitamin C nearly as high as intravenous doses given through injections. A few studies in animals and test tubes indicate that very high blood levels of vitamin C might shrink tumors. But more research is needed to determine whether high-dose intravenous vitamin C helps treat cancer in people.
Vitamin C dietary supplements and other antioxidants might interact with chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer. People being treated for cancer should talk with their oncologist before taking vitamin C or other antioxidant supplements, especially in high doses.
Cardiovascular disease
People who eat lots of fruits and vegetables seem to have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers believe that the antioxidant content of these foods might be partly responsible for this association because oxidative damage is a major cause of cardiovascular disease. However, scientists aren't sure whether vitamin C itself, either from food or supplements, helps protect people from cardiovascular disease. It is also not clear whether vitamin C helps prevent cardiovascular disease from getting worse in people who already have it.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts
AMD and cataracts are two of the leading causes of vision loss in older people. Researchers do not believe that vitamin C and other antioxidants affect the risk of getting AMD. However, research suggests that vitamin C combined with other nutrients might help slow AMD progression.
In a large study among older people with AMD who were at high risk of developing advanced AMD, those who took a daily dietary supplement with 500 mg vitamin C, 80 mg zinc, 400 IU vitamin E, 15 mg beta-carotene, and 2 mg copper for about 6 years had a lower chance of developing advanced AMD. They also had less vision loss than those who did not take the dietary supplement. People who have or are developing the disease might want to talk with their doctor about taking dietary supplements.
The relationship between vitamin C and cataract formation is unclear. Some studies show that people who get more vitamin C from foods have a lower risk of getting cataracts. But further research is needed to clarify this association and to determine whether vitamin C supplements affect the risk of getting cataracts.
The common cold
Although vitamin C has long been a popular remedy for the common cold, research shows that for most people, vitamin C supplements do not reduce the risk of getting the common cold. However, people who take vitamin C supplements regularly might have slightly shorter colds or somewhat milder symptoms when they do have a cold. Using vitamin C supplements after cold symptoms start does not appear to be helpful.
Can vitamin C be harmful?
Taking too much vitamin C can cause diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps. In people with a condition called hemochromatosis, which causes the body to store too much iron, high doses of vitamin C could worsen iron overload and damage body tissues.
The daily upper limits for vitamin C include intakes from all sources—food, beverages, and supplements—and are listed below:
Life Stage
Upper Limit
Birth to 12 months
Not established
Children 1–3 years
400 mg
Children 4–8 years
650 mg
Children 9–13 years
1,200 mg
Teens 14–18 years
1,800 mg
Adults
2,000 mg
Does vitamin C interact with medications or other dietary supplements?
Vitamin C dietary supplements can interact or interfere with medicines that you take. Here are several examples:
Vitamin C dietary supplements might interact with cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It is not clear whether vitamin C might have the unwanted effect of protecting tumor cells from cancer treatments or whether it might help protect normal tissues from getting damaged. If you are being treated for cancer, check with your healthcare provider before taking vitamin C or other antioxidant supplements, especially in high doses.
In one study, vitamin C plus other antioxidants (such as vitamin E, selenium, and beta-carotene) reduced the heart-protective effects of two drugs taken in combination (a statin and niacin) to control blood-cholesterol levels. It is not known whether this interaction also occurs with other statins. Healthcare providers should monitor lipid levels in people taking both statins and antioxidant supplements.
Tell your doctor, pharmacist, and other healthcare providers about any dietary supplements and medicines you take. They can tell you if those dietary supplements might interact or interfere with your prescription or over-the-counter medicines or if the medicines might interfere with how your body absorbs, uses, or breaks down nutrients.
Vitamin C and healthful eating
People should get most of their nutrients from food and beverages, according to the federal government's Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Foods contain vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and other components that benefit health. In some cases, fortified foods and dietary supplements are useful when it is not possible to meet needs for one or more nutrients (e.g., during specific life stages such as pregnancy). For more information about building a healthy dietary pattern, see the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPlate.
Where can I find out more about vitamin C?
Disclaimer
This fact sheet by the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) provides information that should not take the place of medical advice. We encourage you to talk to your healthcare providers (doctor, registered dietitian, pharmacist, etc.) about your interest in, questions about, or use of dietary supplements and what may be best for your overall health. Any mention in this publication of a specific product or service, or recommendation from an organization or professional society, does not represent an endorsement by ODS of that product, service, or expert advice.
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Todays review of the pixi Vitamin C Lotion marks my last in a long line that started quite some time ago with the pixi Vitamin Wakeup Mist (Review here). I admit I hadn´t thought about that one in a while, as that product was released years ago, but apparently pixi are building more and more whole lines around their hero products, and I am here for it.
I loved the pixi Vitamin Wakeup Mist, I loved the pixi Vitamin C line and I already have the pixi Hydrating and pixi Retinol lined up on my bathroom shelf – I am in a pixi swing. Which written down sounds like some kind of dance move rather than skincare.
pixi Vitamin C Lotion
The order the products were reviewed in was random, based on how long I had used them and how quickly I could make up my mind, and not based on personal preference or seasonal considerations. Yet, as it sometimes happens, the pixi Vitamin C Cream that I will review today is much better suited for my skin in the upcoming colder months than it was during the summer heat.
What the pixi Vitamin C Lotion claims
Skin brightening moisture lotion
Some facts about the pixi Vitamin C Lotion
Prize and size
One tube contains 50 ml and retails for 24 $ on the website here. The tube is easy to handle, dispenses the right amount of product and didn´t leak when traveling.
Looks exactly like it is: Straightforward
Texture and smell
The scent is the same sweet citrus scent all products from the line have, though less intense than in others. The lotion itself spreads easily, but feels less lightweight than I would have expected. It is not too rich, but feels more like a cream than a lotion to me.
How to use the pixi Vitamin C Lotion
That is pretty straightforward: You cleanse your skin, then do toner and serum if you want to and apply the pixi Vitamin C Lotion as last step in your routine, before SPF (when used in the mornings).
The lotion itself works both morning and night and contains no ingredients that make it suitable for one time of the day only (sunscreen for example), so depending on your skins needs and routine you could use it either way. I prefer using my Vitamin C products in the mornings, but have used the pixi Vitamin C Lotion both morning and night when on holiday and had great results. Despite being outdoors in the wind and sun a lot, my skin stayed calm, supple and without any aggravation of my hyperpigmentation, something that usually happens every summer when I get a lot of sun.
Ingredients of the pixi Vitamin C Lotion
Favorable ingredients
Tocopheryl Acetate: More stable form of Vitamin E, antioxidant
Ferulic Acid: antioxidant, known for stabilizing other antioxidants like Vitamin C, thus enhancing their efficacy
Lactic Acid: AHA, hydrating
Ascorbic Acid: reduces hyperpigmentation, important for collagen production, antioxidant
Oryza Sativa (Rice) Callus Culture Extract: Rich in antioxidants, brightening
Sodium Hyaluronate: Hydrating, smaller form of hyaluronic acid with deeper penetration
Allantoin: Aminoacid, soothing irritated skin
1,2-Hexanediol: Humectant
Pentylene Glycol: Humectant
Butylene Glycol: Humectant, penetration enhancer
Caprylyl Glycol: Humectant
Other ingredients
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Water: Fragrance
Ethylhexylglycerin: Preservative
Disodium EDTA: Binding Agent
A blend of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid, quite a few humectants and some emollients and occlusives. There is Rice Extract for extra brightening, Arginine and Allantoin for soothing and healing and a lot of different Citrus Essential Oils that might be troublesome for some.
Basically what it says on the packaging: A brightening moisturizer.
Does the pixi Vitamin C Lotion live up to its claims?
Yes.
It contains brightening ingredients high up in the formula and is a moisturizer, I can´t argue with that.
How does the pixi Vitamin C Lotion compare to the…
pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm
While the pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm is marketed as overnight leave on mask and the pixi Vitamin C Lotion as regular moisturizer, I don´t find them both to be that different. They are pretty similar in terms of ingredients, with the exception that the Caviar Balm is a lot richer and contains shea butter. If you ask me, I wouldn´t really call one a mask and one a lotion, but would treat both as moisturizer either for normal to combination oily skin (pixi Vitamin C Lotion) or as moisturizer for dry skin (pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm).
You can read my full review of the pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm here.
La Roche Posay Redermic C
Another more lightweight cream, similar in texture and with a focus on Vitamin C. The La Roche Posay Redermic C one contains 5% Vitamin C, which isn´t much, and has no Ferulic Acid or Vitamin E, but instead combines it with Madecosside, and ingredient from Centella Asiatica that claims to enhance the brightening effect. I am not sure how much Vitamin C the pixi Vitamin C Lotion (or any other of their products) contain, but as it is high up on the ingredient list I think it is higher. While both are similar in price, the pixi one contains slightly more product.
Read my full review of La Roche Posay Redermic C here.
Instytutum c-Illuminating 3D Moisturizer
This moisturizer for example is one that I would limit to day time use, as it contains shimmer for a (very subtle) glow on the skin. The texture of the Instytutum product is more lightweight than the pixi Vitamin C Lotion and it has three different kinds of Vitamin C on the ingredient list: 3-O-Cetyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate and Ascorbic Acid. While the first two are more stable than Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid is the best researched, and all of them come in the middle and second half of the ingredient list, indicating a lower concentration. It is worth noting that the Instyutum C-Illuminating 3D Moisturizer costs about twice as much as the pixi Lotion.
Read my full review of the Instyutum C-Illuminating 3D Moisturizer here
Would I repurchase the pixi Vitamin C Lotion?
I am not sure yet.
Out of all the products I have tried from the line I am most excited about the pixi Vitamin C Serum and the pixi Vitamin C Tonic, and I am not sure if I need any more Vitamin C than these two in my routine. When choosing a moisturizer I usually go for a lightweight formula with repairing ingredients rather than more actives, but I will use it up in the winter and then see how I feel once it is finished.
Who do I recommend the pixi Vitamin C Lotion to?
I think this moisturizer is best suited at normal to combination skin types and is suitable for any age.
and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPlate.
